[hepr-vn] UNDP Jobs: International Senior Technical Advisor

[Vern Weitzel]

International Senior Technical Advisor
Publish Date: 10-Apr-2008

The Project VIE/02/001 – SEDEMA Component of “Support to Improvement and 
Implementation of National Target Programmes on Poverty Reduction” is seeking 
highly qualified and experienced candidates for the post of International Senior 
Technical Advisor (Grade: ALD-4; Duration: One year (full-time) with possible 
extension based on performance), based in Ha Noi.

Attached are the Terms of Reference.

Interested international candidates are kindly requested to send your 
application letter, a completed UN Personal History form (download Form P11) or 
an updated CV in English and copies of relevant degrees/ certificates, 
indicating clearly “Application for STA-SEDEMA” to the address below.

Contact

Ms. Nguyen Minh Ha
UNDP Viet Nam
25-29 Phan Boi Chau Street
Ha Noi - Viet Nam

Fax: )84 4) 942 2267
Email: registry.vn at undp.org
Deadline for submissions: Friday 05:00 PM | 02-May-2008

Terms of Reference

International Senior Technical Advisor


Project ID and title:   - VIE/02/001 “Support for Improvement and Implementation 
of the
National Targeted Programs on Poverty Reduction” (ongoing)
Implementing Partner:    Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs 
(MOLISA) for the
National Targeted Program on Poverty Reduction
Co-Implementing
Agency:

State Committee of Ethnic Minority Affairs (CEMA)  for the Socio-
economic Development Program for Mountainous and Ethnic Minority
Areas (SEDEMA or P135-2)
Project ID and title:    - “Capacity development for EM development policy 
formulation,
monitoring and implementation” project
Implementing Partner:    State Committee of Ethnic Minority Affairs (CEMA)

PROJECT BACKGROUND
The National Targeted Programs on Poverty Reduction (NTP-PR) and the SEDEMA/P135
(Socio-Economic Development Program for Mountainous and Ethnic Minority Areas) are
important instruments in the Government of Vietnam’s 2006-2010 five year 
socio-economic
development plan (SEDP) to channel additional resources and build local capacity 
for
sustainably reducing poverty for the country’s poorest households, villages and 
communes.

Since June 2002, UNDP, under Project VIE/02/001, has been providing technical 
support in:
(i) undertaking an overall evaluation of the two programs’ first implementation 
phase; (ii)
designing the second phase of the two programs for 2006-2010, in consultation 
with a wide
range of stakeholders; (iii) developing program implementation guidelines; and 
(iv) designing
and testing program Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems and capacity building
activities. An evaluation of the first phase of the two programs was completed 
in 2004 and
second phases of both programs officially began implementation in 2006 for P135 
and 2007
for the NTP-PR. In 2008 the Government will carry out a mid-term review (MTR) of 
both
national targeted programs. The MTR of P135 will be important to provide an 
assessment of
program progress towards the set goals and targets; to identify areas for 
further improvement
in the program’s remaining period to accelerate the GOV’s poverty reduction 
targets; and to
provide information and evidence for the GOV to determine future strategic 
directions for EM
development as well as for poverty reduction in general.

A new project on Capacity development for Ethnic Minority development policy 
formulation,
monitoring and implementation with CEMA has just been approved by the Prime 
Minister of
Vietnam March 2008. The project aims at strengthening capacity for the CEMA 
system at
national and provincial level to formulate, advocate, implement and monitor 
evidence-based
EM development policies in a more participatory approach.

CEMA and UNDP are seeking for an International Senior Technical Advisor (STA) to 
assist
implementation of these two projects with CEMA as the National Implementing 
Partner. The
STA will be located in a project office at CEMA in Hanoi to provide direct 
technical support to
the implementation of the NTP-PR. The assignment duration is one year full-time 
with
possible extension up to 2.5 years to the end of the project.
RESPONSIBILITIES

Under direct supervision by the Deputy National Project Director (DNPD) at the 
State
Committee of Ethnic Minorities Affairs (CEMA) and UNDP Management, the STA will 
provide
policy and technical advice to CEMA  in pursuance of the project objectives. The 
STA
supports CEMA and UNDP in achieving programme Outcomes and Outputs.

MAIN TASKS AND SPECIFIC DUTIES:

1. Provide policy advice for poverty reduction and socio-economic development (SED)
of ethnic minorities (EMs).

• Systematic analysis of ethnic minority policies and programs under CEMA for 
poverty
reduction and socio-economic development for EMs, identification of information 
gaps
and capacity issues, and development of strategies to improve the policy process 
and
programs related to poverty reduction and SED for EMs.
• Results-based management in CEM’s poverty reduction programming, including
performance monitoring and capturing results, lessons learned and good practices 
for
improved programming and policy development.
• Identifying and sharing relevant best international practices, experiences and
knowledge; and providing quality inputs to 135P implementation and EM development
policy initiatives of CEMA including applying a participatory, empirically and 
evidence
based approach.
• Directly involving in the implementation of and coordination for the 2008 MTR 
of the
NTPs.

2. Provide technical advice for the planning, implementation and dissemination of
results of the P135-2

• Support implementation of national guidelines and key elements of the program
through introduction of new approaches and elements of P135-2; identify 
priorities and
capacity development needs to be addressed
• Strategic recommendations to ensure the overall relevance, performance and
sustainability of the 135P 2008 planned activities and quality of outputs.
• Technical advice to monitor and evaluate 135P pilot activities and capture 
results,
lessons learned and good practices for wider replication in P135-2.
• Develop mechanisms for both horizontal and vertical experience sharing, 
analysis and
utilization of information sources to be disseminated, between provinces as well as
among partners in P135-2.

  3. Contribute to capacity development and institutional strengthening

•     Capacity assessment and enabling of capacity building: Assist the 
identification of
capacity gaps in the NIP and co-implementing partners and recommend capacity
building interventions; review TORs for study tours/fellowships and trainings; 
assist in
identifying appropriate host institutions/organisations; Lead, deliver and 
provide on-the-
job training on project management to CEMA/Project Management Team (PMT)
including of the co-implementing partners.
•  Technical advice: Provide substantive technical inputs to the NIP and other 
partners in
the preparation and implementation of the capacity development activities for EM
development policy and 135P implementation. This includes (but not exclusively)
inputs and advices in (i) identifying needs for; mobilising, managing and quality
assurance of; capacity development support inputs; (ii) ensuring the effective 
utilisation
of CD products/their contributions to the NIP’s results/outputs; and (iii) 
strategic
directions/orientations as well as emerging issues that need taking into the 
account in
the NIP‘s work plans.
•  Knowledge generation and sharing: Assist the CEMA and UNDP in preparation and
strengthening of knowledge & information sharing strategy; knowledge networking 
with
development partners; and facilitate international and national inputs into 
research,
review and sharing forum.

4. Provide advice to CEMA and facilitate capacity building on budget support to 
P135-2

• Facilitate dialogue on budget support issues with government and donors by
participation in regular donor budget support meetings and information sharing 
on TA
activities and implementation issues.
• Effective knowledge sharing on budget support by documenting lessons and good
practices from other budget support experiences in Vietnam and elsewhere, and
developing knowledge-based tools.
• Identify capacity building and other needs of the CEMA-managed Secretariat in its
functions to support the Budget Support Partnership Committee and regular Joint
Program Reviews.
• Provide technical assistance and advice to CEMA to manage the Budget Support
Results Framework and assembling evidence to support achievement of triggers.

5. Project technical support in close consultation with the D-NPD

• Project management: Support the D-NPD in supervision, monitoring, quality 
control,
coordination, and direct provision of technical guidance relating to the work of 
project
consultants to ensure good quality and timely delivery of their products. This 
includes
support in identifying TA needs of the NIP and other GOVN agencies involved in
managing and implementing P135-2 and Capacity Development for EM Policy,
reviewing and providing substantive inputs to TORs for technical assistance,
supporting the identification and selection of suitable consultants, providing 
quality
assurance, and advcies on the utilisation/ institutionalisation, of the 
consultants’ work
and products.
• UNDP Project development: Assist the UNDP in identifying emerging needs and new
development themes, and support strategy formulation and portfolio development in
the areas of EM development policy and poverty programmes aiming at EM people.
• Work planning: Provide advice on project annual and quarterly work plans, and
especially strategic directions/orientations and emerging issues that should be
incorporated into work plans of all UNDP supported activities with CEMA as the NIP.
• Monitoring, review and evaluation: Guide the process of monitoring, review and
evaluation, and reporting of key results including lessons learnt covering all UNDP
supported activities with CEMA as the NIP. This includes direct inputs to 
pre-approval
review of annual reports, work plans, technical reports and completion reports.
• Coordination:
- Support NPD/NIP to coordinate expert inputs, consisting of international and 
national
consultants for specific tasks, for conducting research, workshops/seminars, 
project
reviews/evaluations, and information exchange in relation to all UNDP supported
activities with CEMA as the NIP
- Work closely with MOLISA and its STA to ensure that the TORs and TA inputs to the
NTP-PR and P135-2 are coordinated as much as possible to produce synergistic
outputs.
- Acting as a focal point to assist NPD/NIP and UNDP in coordinating technical
assistance NIP received from different donors and UN agencies through participation
in related working groups and meetings, active collaboration with other TA projects
and initiatives, and regular sharing of information on work plans, TA results 
and other
significant issues.

6. Participate in building strategic partnerships and developing joint dialogue 
initiatives
on poverty reduction and socio-economic development of ethnic minorities

• Assist CEMA and UNDP in developing new partnerships and deepen relations with
       existing partners (including UN, under One UN initiative; partners in 
budget support
to 135P and EM policy Forum), on EM development policy and 135P.
• Identify strategic opportunities for dialogue on poverty reduction and SED for 
EMs and
provide technical assistance to CEM and help to establish an annual policy forum on
poverty reduction and socio-economic development of EMs.
• Promote synergies and partnerships with national and regional initiatives as 
well as
with other UN agencies, including in the context of the formulation of joint 
programs.
• Provide advocacy support to the UN/DP, including preparation of policy 
research and
writing of public statements by the UN/DP on EM development policy, and advocate
for the achievements of MDGs and UN/DP mandate, values and objectives in
appropriate forums/occasions
• Contribute updates, briefs and other substantive inputs to be used CEMA, UNDP and
other stakeholders in (i) preparing policy statements for key events and/or key
policy/concept/discussion papers, (ii) formulating UNDP’s positions on 
particular sets
of substantive issues, (iii) identification of research topics for effective 
implementation
of P135-2 and key poverty/EM development policy issues in Viet Nam for UNDP
strategy and program development.
• Participate in, and contribute to meetings and discussions on ethnic 
minorities with
Government and development partners
• Maintain networks with poverty reduction practitioners within the donor and NGO
community, the UN system and with key reformers in government and civil society.
• Actively participate in UNDP’s STA network and in the exchange and sharing of
lessons to help improve the delivery of technical support to Vietnam.

7. Advocacy: Provide advocacy support to the UNDP, including preparation of policy
research and writing of public statements by the UNDP on EM development policy, and
advocate for the achievement of MDGs and other UNDP values, Outcomes and Outputs in
appropriate forums / occasions.

Required qualifications and competencies:
• PhD or Masters in Development, Social sciences or related fields
• Team leader/management experience in international agencies/UN-donor supported
projects
• Ten years experience in large poverty reduction programs/projects targeting 
poor/ethnic
minorities, with knowledge of EM development issues
• Five years work experience in a developing country context, preferably in 
South East Asia
or in countries with ethnic minorities
• Proven record in partnership development and/or resource mobilization, working
successfully with Government, development partners and other stakeholders
• Good conceptualization and analytical skills
• Good interpersonal communication skills and ability for teamwork in a 
multi-cultural
environment
• Full proficiency in both spoken and written English; knowledge of Vietnamese 
is desirable
• Computer proficiency



Performance Indicators

• Programme/project management advice of high quality and relevance (provide 
proposals
as needed relating to management and organization of the project)
• Policy and technical advice of high quality and relevance (provide proposals 
as needed
relating to policy and technical nature)
• Strategy and portfolio development advice of high quality and relevance (provide
proposals as needed relating to project strategy and portfolio development)
• Inputs into project progress reports and work plans, and review-comments of 
high quality
and relevance (assist the preparation of the half yearly and annual progress 
reports)
• Appropriate international and national consultants recruited and effectively 
coordinated
and used in project implementation (provide selection criteria to the 
recruitment, guidance
and quality assurance)
• Provide effective communication styles in different situations
• Provide effective training delivery skills and styles
• Exercise excellent facilitation skills
• Effective and active networking and partnerships
• At least one new initiative or project is formulated by/with the UNDP based 
primarily on
Adviser’s suggestions and facilitation;
• At least 2-3 articles, lessons learned and “best practices” papers/notes 
published on EM
development policies, poverty reduction projects targeting EM/poor people.


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